March, 2016

• 19 March

  Khalifa Foundation sponsors mass wedding for 870 people in Bahrain

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The UAE’s Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation paid the expenses of a mass wedding for 435 couples held on Friday in Manama, Bahrain, in cooperation with the Riffa Charity Society. An official source at the foundation said it was the largest mass wedding in the Middle East. The source added that the foundation was acting ...

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• 19 March

  TRA takes part in ‘Broadband Commission’ meet

  

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business The General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications Sector (TRA) recently participated in the 13th meeting of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, which welcomed 13 ministers from across the world. The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and businessman Carlos Slim. The participants noted the importance of setting a set of ...

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• 19 March

  UAE wins 22 awards at Gulf Radio and Television Festival

  Manama / WAM The United Arab Emirates, represented by the National Media Council and private media organisations, has won 22 awards at the 14th Gulf Radio and Television Festival, which concluded on Friday evening. Ali bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi, Bahraini Information Minister and President of the 14th Gulf Radio and Television Festival, presented winners with the awards at a special ...

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• 19 March

  NCMS warns of dust storm, rough seas

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) is urging drivers to be cautious, reduce speed and leave enough distance between vehicles while driving due to strong north eastern winds lifting dust. In a statement, the NCMS warned of severe turbulent weather and very rough seas in the Arabian Gulf. The forecasters advised people not to ...

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• 19 March

  Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival from April 20

  Sharjah / WAM The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has announced the completion of all preparations for the eighth edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) 2016, which will take place from April 20-30 at Expo Centre Sharjah. Themed ‘Shine Out,’ SCRF 2016 will be held under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council ...

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• 19 March

  Abe may delay hike in consumption tax rate if economy stagnates

  

  Tokyo / DPA Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering delaying an increase in the consumption tax rate if the economy remains stuck in low gear, due to concerns the hike could hurt the economy more than initial forecast as the global economy slows down. Abe will make a final decision around the time Japan hosts the Group of Seven major ...

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• 19 March

  Honeywell to provide maintenance services for APUs of Jet Airways

  

  New Delhi / DPA Honeywell Aerospace has been selected by Jet Airways to provide maintenance services for Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) on board its fleet of 10 Boeing 777 airplanes. The five-year agreement will help Jet Airways better predict and manage maintenance cycles, allowing the India-based airline to reduce unscheduled downtime and improve reliability of its fleets. The announcement was ...

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• 19 March

  Drought, salinity hit Vietnam’s fishery exports

  HCM City / DPA Severe drought in the Mekong Delta has badly affected agriculture and aquaculture, threatening a scarcity of raw materials for seafood exports. Shrimp farmers in Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang and Kien Giang provinces are nervous as their shrimp keep dying because of drought and saltwater intrusion up rivers. “Shrimp farming is so risky,” Sai Gon ...

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• 19 March

  Indonesian group seeks $1bn debt for mine deal

  Jakarta / Bloomberg An Indonesian consortium led by veteran investment banker Agus Projosasmito is in talks to raise $1 billion of debt to back its bid for control of Newmont Mining Corp.’s copper operations in the country, according to the group’s financial adviser. The investor group is in discussions with banks on borrowing $750 million in senior loans and $250 ...

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• 19 March

  Thailand’s power peak to hit 28,500 megawatt this year

  Bangkok / DPA Thailand’s power peak will hit a new record this year when electricity usage is expected to hit 28,500 megawatt, according to an estimate by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand under the assumption that average temperature would rise by 4 percent to 38.5 degree Celcius. The electricity consumption should hit a new peak some time during April ...

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